The Ensemble Theatre Kicks off Encore Run of Holiday Musical Stepp Stewart’s A Soulful Christmas

HOUSTON (October 26, 2015) –- The Ensemble Theatre kicks off the encore run of the holiday musical, Stepp Stewart’s A Soulful Christmas, with an Opening Night and Media reception, Thursday, November 19, 2015, 6:30 p.m.

“From generation to generation music has always been a part of the Christmas experience,” says Director Choreographer Patdro Harris. “Musical Director Carlton Leake and this talented cast will fill you up with soul stirring tunes, from Cab Calloway to Donny Hathaway, from Mahalia Jackson to the Jackson 5, and from the Temptations to TLC.”

This African American tale, directed and choreographed by Patdro Harris with musical direction by Carlton Leake, is the story of two children, Destiny and Julius, who are taken on a musical journey one magical Christmas Eve. They soon discover the rich history within the music, dance, and culture of the holidays. They go back in time and enjoy a variety of favorite Soulful Christmas tunes, performed in the style of the artists that made them famous including: “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” – Michael Jackson, "Go Tell It On The Mountain" - Mahalia Jackson, "This Christmas" - Donny Hathaway, "Silent Night" - The Temptations, and more!

“The adventures of Destiny and Julius in this story are based on the vivid childhood imagination of me and my sister,” says Stewart. “We often dreamed of holiday magic, but never realized the magic was in the music, the smell of the food, the winter weather, the rush of Christmas shoppers, and a good old classic Christmas TV special like ...Charlie Brown.”

Stepp Stewart’s A Soulful Christmas is a musical concert with selections written, performed, and published by various artists. The show is adapted by Patdro Harris with original music by Carlton Leake.

The Ensemble Theatre's 2015-2016 Season is sponsored in part by grants from the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance, Texas Commission on the Arts, and the National Endowment for

the Arts. United Airlines is the official airline sponsor for The Ensemble Theatre. Stepp Stewart’s A Soulful Christmas is generously underwritten by Shell.
The Ensemble Theatre was founded in 1976 by the late George Hawkins to preserve African American artistic expression and to enlighten, entertain, and enrich a diverse community. Thirty-nine years later, the theatre has evolved from a small touring company to one of Houston’s finest historical cultural institutions.

The Ensemble is one of a few professional theatres in the region dedicated to the production of works portraying the African American experience. The oldest and largest professional African American theatre in the Southwest, it holds the distinction of being one of the nation’s largest African American theatres owning and operating its facility and producing in-house. Board President Emeritus Audrey Lawson led the capital campaign for The Ensemble’s $4.5 million building renovations that concluded in 1997. The Ensemble Theatre has fulfilled and surpassed the vision of its founder and continues to expand and create innovative programs to bring African American theatre to myriad audiences.